TY - JOUR
T1 - Revisiting the accuracy of peak flow meters
T2 - A double-blind study using formal methods of agreement
AU - Nazir, Z.
AU - Razaq, S.
AU - Mir, S.
AU - Anwar, M.
AU - Al Mawlawi, G.
AU - Sajad, M.
AU - Shehab, A.
AU - Taylor, R. S.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Background: There is widespread use of peak flow meters in both hospitals and general practice. Previous studies to assess peak flow meter accuracy have shown significant differences in the values obtained from different meters. However, many of these studies did not use human subjects for peak flow measurements and did not compare meters of varying usage. In this study human subjects have been used with meters of varying usage. Methods: Participants were tested using two new (meters A and C) and one old peak flow meter (meter B) in random order. The study was double-blinded. Participants were recruited from the university campus. Results: Four hundred and nine individuals participated. The difference between peak flow means of A and B was -9.93 l/min (95% CI: -12.37 to -7.48, P<0.0001). The difference between peak flow means of B and C was 20.08 l/min (95% CI: 17.85-22.29, P<0.0001). The difference between peak flow means of A and C was 10.15 l/min (95% CI: 7.68-12.61, P<0.0001). Conclusion: There was a significant difference between the values obtained from the new and old peak flow meters and also between the two new peak flow meters. We conclude that there is need for caution in interchangeably using flow meters in clinical practice.
AB - Background: There is widespread use of peak flow meters in both hospitals and general practice. Previous studies to assess peak flow meter accuracy have shown significant differences in the values obtained from different meters. However, many of these studies did not use human subjects for peak flow measurements and did not compare meters of varying usage. In this study human subjects have been used with meters of varying usage. Methods: Participants were tested using two new (meters A and C) and one old peak flow meter (meter B) in random order. The study was double-blinded. Participants were recruited from the university campus. Results: Four hundred and nine individuals participated. The difference between peak flow means of A and B was -9.93 l/min (95% CI: -12.37 to -7.48, P<0.0001). The difference between peak flow means of B and C was 20.08 l/min (95% CI: 17.85-22.29, P<0.0001). The difference between peak flow means of A and C was 10.15 l/min (95% CI: 7.68-12.61, P<0.0001). Conclusion: There was a significant difference between the values obtained from the new and old peak flow meters and also between the two new peak flow meters. We conclude that there is need for caution in interchangeably using flow meters in clinical practice.
KW - Double-blind
KW - Methods of agreement
KW - Peak flow meters
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U2 - 10.1016/j.rmed.2004.10.015
DO - 10.1016/j.rmed.2004.10.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 15823456
AN - SCOPUS:16344385508
SN - 0954-6111
VL - 99
SP - 592
EP - 595
JO - Respiratory Medicine
JF - Respiratory Medicine
IS - 5
ER -